WILKINSON COUNTY, GA - HISTORY  Elijah Clarke's Republic 

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Source:
Davidson's History of Wilkinson county

Letter of Elijah Clarke to the Committee of Safety
is the only copy of any official document issued by
any official of the ill-fated Republic: 

For more complete history of this event:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/wilkinson/history/book/wilk2.txt

ELIJAH CLARKE'S REPUBLIC


Fort Advance, 5th September, 1794 Gentlemen:

Your favor of the 3d instant is now before me;
accept my thanks for your information and attention
to that may, if ever neglected, so materially injure
our enterprise. I consider myself honored by meeting
with the unanimous voice of all the officers
belonging to the different garrisons. I shall always
endeavor to acquit myself worthy of the command
committed to my charge. The information you have
received agrees with mine from Augusta. The
artillery of Augusta are ordered to be in readiness
to march in eight or ten days, and one-third of the
militia are directed to be draughted. It has been
tried in Burke and Richmond counties, but quite
unsuccessful; the troops declare they will not fight
against us. I am happy to find the disposition of
the people with you, so exactly agrees with my own
friends' here; I believe it to be the general
disposition of every garrison. I am determinately
fixed to risk every thing, with my life, upon the
issue, and for the success of the enterprise, you
will apply to the enclosed orders how to conduct
yourselves with inimical individuals. In case of a
body appearing, you will give me the earliest
information. If you are summoned to surrender in the
garrison, you must refuse, with a firmness ever
accompanying the brave. Inform those who apply,
that, if you have done wrong, and the grand jury of
the county have cognizance of your crime, you will
cheerfully submit to be tried by a jury of your
fellow citizens. But you will consider any orders
from the Secretary of War, to be unconstitutional;
the Governor's proclamation, as determined in
Wilkes, illegal. I am informed that Captain Fauche's
troop are directed to stop men and supplies,
crossing to the south side of the Oconee. They have
no right to take hold of any private property
whatever, and, for everything detained, to the value
of one shilling, belonging to any adventurer, they
ELIJAH CLARKE'S REPUBLIC shall suffer the penalty of
the law. If such case should turn up, apply to a
magistrate, and bind the party offending to the next
superior court. To avoid disputes, it will be best
to use a prudent precaution in every case. The
president of the board of officers, E. Bradley,
Esq., mentions my appointing a meeting of the
committee of safety on Monday, the fifth of October;
if it is the first Monday of the month, that is the
day on which our constitution requires them to meet.
If two members meet, they may adjourn from day to
day, until the whole or a majority of them can be
convened. It is entirely out of my power to appoint
the 22d of this month, or any other day, if does not
agree with the constitution; you will attend to
appointing your members for the committee on the
15th of this month, at the several garrisons. Meet
the first Monday in next month, but in case of the
election as mentioned, the members who cannot attend
on Monday, meet on Tuesday or Wednesday, that is,
those who first meet must adjourn from day to day,
until they are convened. Must beg you to copy
orders, and send them to the several garrisons above
you. 

Yours, etc., E. CLARKE 

NOTE; -You receive one petition, which will suit
everybody but a real tory. Our own people and
particular friends will subscribe them, with the
addition of the office being opened to no persons
but those who will become settlers. (Indian Affairs
ap. 501.)